A Puerto Rican Folktale
retold by Room 35
Written by F. C. Nicholson

Long, long ago late one morning in the jungle on the island of Puerto Rico three friends sat together. Toucan, Monkey and Mouse were talking about their problems with Tiger. They were afraid to get a drink of water from the river because Tiger was always there to chase them. Toucan couldn't get pongo nuts from the pongo nut tree because Tiger always shook the tree. Monkey couldn't get bananas from the banana tree because Tiger was curled up at the base of the tree. The animals wanted to find a way to get rid of Tiger. They felt that they needed to be smart to make Tiger leave the island of Puerto Rico. They decided to ask Mouse's cousin Rabbit, the smartest animal they knew, to help them. Just then Rabbit passed by and the animals asked him to help them get rid of Tiger forever. Rabbit agreed to help them get rid of Tiger.

Toucan said, "HOORAY!"

Later that day, Tiger came by and Rabbit asked to make a bargain with him. Tiger wanted to know what kind of bargain Rabbit wanted to make. The bargain was that if Rabbit could ride on Tiger's back, Tiger would have to leave Puerto Rico forever. Tiger thought that it was a bunch of nonsense. Tiger said that Rabbit would never ride on his back because he was the fiercest animal in the jungle. Turtle said that Tiger was the meanest animal alive in the jungle. Tiger told Turtle to be quiet. He didn't want back talk from his lunch. Finally Tiger agreed to the bargain. He said that if Rabbit didn't ride on his back, he would be able to eat Rabbit up.

Rabbit agreed and said,"Tiger give me your paw on that."

Rabbit then noticed that Tiger had Turtle in his paw. Rabbit told Tiger that there was a bigger Turtle at the bottom of the stream. It probably is the ancestor of all turtles.

Tiger said, "I am a great hunter and I deserve a great lunch." So Tiger ran off to get his humongous lunch.

Turtle said to Rabbit, "At the bottom of the stream? Isn't that where Snapping Turtle lives?"

Rabbit said, "That's right! It sounds like Tiger just found that out!"

In the distance Tiger screamed, "OW!"

Tiger returns with a bandage on his nose. Tiger decides to get back at Rabbit. He heads toward Rabbit's house and hides under his table.

Rabbit goes home and sees Tiger tracks by his door. He thinks that Tiger is inside his house. Rabbit pretends to talk to his house and when it talks back he knows that it is Tiger that is inside his house.

Rabbit says, "Hello, you silly Tiger, you'll have to do more than hide under a table to catch me!"

Tiger crawls out from under the table and says,"Oh that Rabbit! He makes me so mad! I'll catch him if it's the last thing I do."

Later Rabbit is telling his friends about how Tiger tried to catch him. Turtle thought that Rabbit had made Tiger so mad that he would eat Rabbit up as soon as he saw him.

The animals heard Tiger coming so all of them except Rabbit ran to hide .

Rabbit pretends that he is so sad about tricking Tiger. Rabbit lies down just as Tiger arrives in the jungle.

Tiger said, "Rabbit why won't you run away from me?"

Rabbit told Tiger that he felt so sad for all of the tricks he had played on Tiger. Rabbit told Tiger that he could take him home to make him into rabbit stew. He wouldn't try to get away.

Tiger was amazed. He couldn't believe his ears. He asked Rabbit, "Are you sure you want me to eat you up?"

Rabbit said, "Every whisker. It's what I deserve."

Tiger said, "OK, come on Rabbit. I haven't had any lunch."

Rabbit told Tiger that he would have to have some help. Tiger would have to carry Rabbit on his back.

Tiger agrees because he wants to eat his lunch.

Rabbit told Tiger to get a vine to hold on to. Tiger put the other end of the vine in his mouth and took a few steps.

Suddenly the animals came out of their hiding place and eXcitedly said that Tiger had Rabbit on his back.

Rabbit told Tiger that he would have to leave the island forever. Rabbit said, "Now do you want to walk down to the ocean on your own or do we have to carry you?"

Tiger said, " I'm going. I'm going." And he zoomed out of Puerto Rico forever.

Rabbit said, "Goodbye Tiger." That was the last time anyone ever saw Tiger.